Nikon D40 review

Nikon D40

The Nikon D40 is a 6 Megapixel entry-level digital SLR aimed at general consumers, family users and photographic students. It’s designed for first-time DSLR buyers who may be upgrading from a budget film SLR or who’ve outgrown their digital compact. It replaces the D50 at the bottom of Nikon’s current DSLR range and shares aspects of both its predecessor and the higher-end D80

The D40 takes the 6 Megapixel sensor of the D50, adds the menu system and in-camera retouching options of the D80, throws in a decent-sized 2.5in screen, and packs it all into a light, compact and affordable body. The D40 is typically supplied as a kit with a new DX 18-55mm II lens which delivers a general-purpose range equivalent to 27-83mm.

In order to achieve the D40’s size and weight, Nikon made the decision not to include the internal motor required to auto-focus older Nikkor lenses. As such the D40 can only auto-focus with newer Nikkor lenses which feature built-in motors of their own. This decision horrified many enthusiasts with collections of older lenses, but since the D40 is targeted at first-time DSLR owners, it shouldn’t affect them too much. Just know that if you go for the D40, you should equip it with AF-S or AF-I CPU lenses if you want the camera to autofocus; be particularly careful to check for compatibility with third party lenses. Other lenses will still work on the D40, but you’ll need to manually focus them.

With that caveat out the way, the big question is whether the D40 delivers the goods to its target market. Is it an easy-to-use upgrade for first-time DSLR owners? Are its 6 Megapixels sufficient in today’s marketplace? And crucially how does it also compare to budget 10 Megapixel alternatives from rivals like Canon?

At the time of writing, Nikon also announced its own 10 Megapixel version called the D40x and we’ll be considering that model here too; in fact since the D40x is identical other than its higher resolution sensor (and subsequent minor differences in ISO range and continuous shooting), this article also represents a preview of this new model

Canon 400d review

Canon EOS 400D/ rebel xti

The Canon EOS 400D / Rebel XTi digital SLR is the successor to the best-selling EOS 350D / Rebel XT. Announced in August 2006, it combines a number of anticipated improvements along with a few genuine surprises.

Most people won’t be surprised to learn the 400D / XTi now features a larger 2.5in screen and Canon’s Picture Styles, but following the earlier EOS 30D, many equally expected the new entry-level body to employ the same sensor as its predecessor.

But instead of re-using the 350D / XT’s 8 Megapixel sensor, Canon’s developed a brand new 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor for the 400D / XTi. This makes it Canon’s highest resolution digital SLR with an EF-S lens mount to date.





















In addition the EOS 400D / Rebel XTi is the first Canon digital SLR to feature a self-cleaning sensor which shakes off dust particles. Reference frames can also be tagged to images for automatic removal of more stubborn dust particles later using supplied software.

These features make the 400D / XTi a more significant upgrade than many expected, and also places Canon’s entry-level digital SLR above its own higher-end EOS 30D, in terms of resolution and dust-elimination anyway. It’s even inherited the 30D’s nine-point AF system.

In this full review of a final production EOS 400D / Rebel XTi we’ll put these improvements to the test and also see how the new model performs against its predecessor and the Sony Alpha A100.

Both the Sony A100 and the forthcoming Nikon D80 share the same 10 Megapixel resolution, while the Sony additionally boasts anti-dust and anti-shake capabilities. The new Canon certainly has a lot to offer, but is it sufficient to beat increasingly tough competition?

Canon 40d review

Canon EOS 40D introduction

Canon’s EOS 40D is the company’s latest DSLR designed for enthusiasts and semi-pros. Announced in August 2007, it’s the successor to the EOS 30D, and continues Canon’s 18 month cycle for this product line. While the EOS 30D represented a minor upgrade over its predecessor though, the new 40D features significant improvements – and not a moment too soon considering arch rival Nikon’s leadership in mid-range DSLRs over the past two years.

Canon’s bumped the resolution from 8 to 10.1 Megapixels, added anti-dust features, increased continuous shooting to 6.5fps, and improved the viewfinder, AF system and weatherproofing. The A-D conversion and RAW files now work in 14-bits, the colour monitor is bigger at 3in, and perhaps most notably of all, the EOS 40D now features Live View facilities. Finally, the EOS 40D supports interchangeable focusing screens, an optional wireless transmitter and even shows the ISO in the viewfinder by popular demand.

Canon also launched two new zooms with the EOS 40D: a new version of the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens now with Image Stabilisation (although sadly no USM focusing), and an EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS budget zoom, again with stabilisation but no USM.

The EOS 40D’s kit options vary depending on your region. Europe and Australasia have the sensible choice of either the new EF-S 18-55mm IS or the popular EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, while America has the somewhat curious option of the EF 28-135mm IS USM. The latter offers a decent reach, but misses out on wide angle capabilities, but at least all three kit lenses have stabilisation, no doubt a reaction to rival DSLRs with built-in anti-shake facilities. The EOS 40D is of course also available as a body alone.

So what we have with the EOS 40D is a camera which appears comfortably superior to Nikon’s D80 and better in many respects to the D200. Indeed the EOS 40D is arguably a mini version of the EOS 1D Mark III with a cropped-frame sensor. Canon clearly took Nikon’s success over the last generation very seriously and after resting on its laurels with the EOS 30D, is now back and fighting.

Of course the competition hasn’t stood still either, and the EOS 40D has a tough new rival in the form of the Nikon D300. Like the D200 before it, this is a higher-end camera with a higher price tag to match, but if the past two years have proven anything, it’s that discerning DSLR buyers don’t mind paying extra for a superior product which could last them longer. Canon’s 400D / XTi lost out on many sales to the D80, as did the 30D to the D200. Nikon’s bodies were pricier, but ultimately preferred by many